Fastener



`Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' Emmer it. 'v'riiriimm oill PROVIDENCE, nHonE ISLAND.

rasrmrna.

Application led March 30, 1925. Serial No. 19,332.

This invention relates lto an improved construction of separable fastener,.and has for its object to provide a fastener of this .character, which comprises two rows of interlocking members for releasably'locking together adjacent edges of an article, such as shoes, boots, overshoes, or other article, and the particular feature of this invention is the provision of an operating device slid-- with means for clamping these plates upon these rows of interlocking members to lock the device lin adjusted position thereon.

With these and other objects in view., the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing my improved lseparable fastener with its upper ends separated. Q

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Figure 1, showing my improved means for locking the operating device in adjusted position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the bottom operating plate with the upper plate removed.

Figure- 4 is another view of the bottom operating plate.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the underside of the cam pull member.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation illustrating the locking cam asv acting upon the plates to bind them against the opposite edges of the rows of interlocking members. Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating A the cam pull in position to spring the plates together and bind them together in the interlocking members to retain them in adjusted position. v

Figure 8 is a modied construction showing an edge view of the fastener and illustrating the clampin member as secured in position by a padloc It is found in the-practical construction A, and operation of separablefasteners of this character,particularly where they are applied to shoes, overshoes, and other like devices in which an opening strain is brought to bear upon the'parts to separate their adjacent edges by sliding the operating device towards opening position, to be very annoying to the wearer, and to obviate this difficulty, I have provided a locking or clamping attachment to act upon the operating members of the operating device to readily lock the same in any desired adjusted position along the length of the fastener; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of my invention showing one means by which this advantageous result may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates thel strip of material, to the opposite edges of which the usual interlocking metallic members 11 are applied, and the operating device 12 which is constructed of a pair of spaced plates 13 joined by a resilient loop 14 acting to connect the opposite edges of the interlocking members to normally hold these plates in spaced relation and these plates are provided with the usual edge flanges 15 to engage and force these locking members into and out of interlocking position; also the'seplatcs are provided with diverging portions v16 at their upper ends which 'serve to guide and separate the members when the operating device is moved 1n a direction to either engage or disengage .these sets of members one with the other,

It is found in 4practice that when the usual separable fastener of this character is applied to such articles as overshrps and the like, that when a separating strain is applied by extraordinary strains. i

To accomplish this locking or binding 3etion in a simple and effective way, I have formed a staple-shaped connector 17, preferably with two legs 18 that extend down through the top plate and are headed over through openings in the bottom plate, the

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loop portion of. this staple being arranged to extend above the top plate. i

In order to draw these plates toward each other, I have formed a cam-shaped member 19 on the end of the pull lever 20. This cam member has a portion extending laterally.

toward each other and'so lbind them against'y they opposite edges ofthe interlocking members 11; also the edge .portion ofthis cam is set on such an angle as to extend just beyond the vertical center line through the loop so as to retain the handleof the pull in its down or locked position.

By this construction, it will be seen that the handle member serves as a convenient pull for the operating member by which it 'may be caused to slide either up or down into the desired position and then by swinging the lever down upon the top plate both plates are drawn toward each other to bind the whole together.

I have shown the cam edges of the pull member as engaging the back of the top plate to draw the two plates toward eac other to bind them on opposite sides of the interlocking members 11, but any suitable means may be employed to effect this binding action without departing. from the spirit and scope of this invention.

It is found in practice where my improved device is applied as a fastener for such articles as ltraveling bags or other similar receptacles, of advantage to lock the same so as to prevent it from being opened byan unauthorized person, and to accomplish this in a simple and effective way, I have formed an eye member 22 on one of the loops 23 for the reception of a padlock 24, or other locking device, whereby the cam bindin member 19 may be secured in locked position when desired. j

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the .construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being dened and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fastener comprising two rows of cooperating interlocking membe'rs' for releasably connecting together ladjacent edges of an article, a fastener operating device comprising cooperating inner and outer plates slidably` mounted on said rows, and binding meansl acting directly upon said plates to grip the intermediate fastener parts between them and l,seretain said device in any ad justed position Ralong thelength of said members. i

2. A separable fastenerP comprising two rows of cooperating interlocking members for releasably connecting1 'together adjacent edges of an article, a. pair of o positely-disposed operating plates slida y mounted thereon, and means forv binding said plates on said. members to retain the plates in adjusted position. I

3. A separable fastener comprising two rows of cooperating interlocking members for releasably connecting together adjacent 'edges 'of an article, 'an'operatmg device Ycorr.-

Vprising a pair ofroppositely disposed spaced plates having divergmg channels, anda'cam movable to bind said plates against said members to retain the device in adjusted position. v

4. A separable fastener comprising two rows of cooperating interlocking'members for releasably connecting together adjacent edges of an article, an operating device comprising a pair of oppositely disposed spaced plaies having diverging channels, and a pull handle for manipulating said..v devicel and having a cam. portion acting upon said plates causing them togri when in any desired adjuste position by swinging of the handle downward.

5. A separable fastener comprising two the said members rows of cooperating interlocking membersfor releasably connecting together adjacent edges of an.article, un operating device comprising a pair of oppositely disposed spaced plates connected by a. resilient loop, a ainnector between said plates, and means arrangedl to operate through said connector for binding said plates against said members to lock the device in adjusted position..

6.. A separable fastener comprising two rows of cooperating interlocking members for releasably connecting together adjacent edges of an article, an operating device comprising a pair of oppositely disposed spaced top and bottom plates connected by a resilient loop, a connector between said plates having a portion extending through the top plate, and a cam having an operating handle arranged to engage the upper portion ofsaid connector for causing said plates to grip said members to lock the device in adjusted position.

7. A fastener comprising two rows of cooperating interlocking members for releasably connecting together adjacent edges of an article, a fastener operating device comprising cooperating inner and outer plates slidably mounted on said rows, preure exerting means acting directly upon said plates to rip and retain said device in any desired adjusted position along the length ofysaid interlocking members, and a lock for securing said retaining means in binding posiplates having diverging channels, a cam tion. movable to bind said plates against said 8. A separable fastener comprising two -members to retain the device in adjusted porows of cooperating interlocking members sition, and a lock 'for securing said cam in 5 for releasably connecting together adjacent binding position.

edges of an article, an operating device com- In testimony whereof I aix my signature. prising a pair of oppositely disposed spaced ERNEST M. WHITNEY. 

